280 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1686. 



possibly be made; it extends above 1000 miles, and has a little rising on each 

 side, of about a foot high, every where equal and perfectly parallel to one 

 another ; and this way was as neat, especially when the weather was fair, as a 

 threshing floor, there being certain persons all along this way, to take care to 

 smooth and cleanse it. There was made for their return, a road like the former ' 

 planing or levelling the mountains, and raising bridges over the rivers ; and 

 for ornamenting them, they had extended on each side of them a sort of mats, 

 on which were painted divers figures of animals, which had the same effect as 

 tapestry hangings. The emperor seldom made use of this road, being mostly 

 occupied in hunting : and when he accompanied the queens, he only rode by 

 the side of it, that the great numbers of horse in his train might not spoil it. 

 He usually marched at the head of this kind of army. The queens followed 

 immediately, but at some distance, in their chariots, with their train and equi- 

 page ; after these marched the kings, the grandees of the court and the man- 

 darines, every one according to his rank ; behind these an infinity of attendants^ 

 and other people on horseback, brought up the rear. 



As there was not one city upon all this way, that could either lodge so great 

 a multitude, or furnish them with provisions, they were obliged to carry along 

 with them all necessaries for the journey, and even provisions for 3 months. 

 On this account there were sent before, by the roads made on each side of the 

 emperor's road, a great number of waggons, camels, horses, and mules, for 

 carrying the baggage : besides these, the emperor, the kings, and almost all 

 the grandees of the court, had great numbers of led horses, and droves of 

 beeves, sheep, and other cattle ; and though they marched by a road at a good 

 distance from that of the emperor, yet they raised such clouds of dust, that it 

 was difficult to distinguish any one at 1 5 or 20 paces. The march was so well 

 regulated, that this army encamped every night by the sides of some river or 

 brook ; and for this reason the tents and baggage necessary for this encamping 

 set out very early in the morning ; and the quarter-masters, on their first ar- 

 rival, marked the ground most proper for tents of the emperor, queens, kings, 

 grandees of the court, and of the mandarines, each according to his dignity, 

 and according to the rank he had in the Chinese militia, which is divided into 8 

 orders or standards. 



In the space of 3 months, we marched about 1000 miles, advancing towards 

 the north-east, and about as many in our return : in fine, we arrived at Kam- 

 Hay, which is a fort situated between the South-sea and the mountains of the 

 north : it is here the celebrated wall begins, which separates the province of 

 Leao-tum from that of Pekely ; from whence it extends very far northwards, 

 over the tops of the highest mountains. On entering this province, the em- 



